Show me someone who refuses to dig deeper into who they are and I will show you someone who has added layers over the years to the point of eliminating their ability to feel, in order to reduce their risk of being hurt but show me someone who has hit bottom, exposing all that they are and all that they are not and who has walked out of that pit holding Jesus’ hand and I will show you someone who has left pride behind and does everything with passion and a fire inside and who doesn’t have time for games.
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed Him.
(Mark 1:16-18 NLT)
Mark tells an incredible story but it’s what he doesn’t say that reminds me why I began following Jesus in the first place. Fisherman in that day were not highly regarded, they lived hard lives that rose and fell like the waves of the sea. Sometimes they would work all day and catch nothing and other times they would catch enough to keep them going. They became accustomed to feast or famine and many drank their troubles away, wondering if there wasn’t more to life. They were looked down upon by the community and kept to themselves much of the time because they were told that they had nothing of value. Those who were strong learned to stay focused on their responsibilities so that their families had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over their heads but regardless of their success they knew their place in society and there was no escaping.
Is it any wonder that when Jesus called Simon and Andrew they left their belongings behind without hesitation? They knew what it was like to be naked and exposed while doing what was necessary to survive. It’s the rest of the town that would have had difficulties abandoning everything in order to follow Jesus. Their layers of self-preservation would have prevented them from living out a life of passion, which would have brought about the very freedom they sought but could not find. You see we can either layer our hearts with pride in order to protect it from pain or we can passionately leave everything that feels safe in order to know who God has created us to be but we cannot do both! Why do we think we can go to church, tithe, do Bible study, and yet still not feel anything. The opposite is true as well, to go out into the world full of passion and not knowing Jesus can only end one way – failure and pain. These are the ones who become addicts as a way of coping with large amounts of pain. Whether you are an addict or a pew warmer or both the answer is a close relationship with Jesus, understanding our own desperate situation, releasing our grip on pride, to know ourselves, and to live out with passion, who God says He has made us to be.
Listen to Jesus’ words…
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.
(John 10:10-11 NLT)
Does this sound like someone who is concerned about self-preservation or doesn’t know what it is like to feel or be passionate about something? Lord, help us to understand your purpose for us better and give us courage to live the life you meant for us to live, in your Son’s name, amen.
